Desk or table top construction.



P. M. WEGE.

DESK OR TABLE TOP CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 22. 19:7.

Patent-ed July 23, 1918.

m y W T T I Desk or Table Top Constructions; and I do Itl till

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PETER IlI. WJEGJE, 01E GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNUR T0 METAL UJFJEIEJJE lEIIItNI- TD'JRE '00., 01E GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, A CORTORATION 01FMICHIGAN.

DESK UIt TABLE TOP CONSTRUCTION.

ament.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 22, 1917. Serial Ito. 1703M.

To all whom it may conce'mfl Be it known that I, PETER M. ll/'EGE, acitizen of the United States of America,

residing at Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan,have invented certain new and .useful Improvements in herebyvdeclare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertainstomake and use the same.

This invention relates to a top construction adapted for application todesks, tables or like articles of furniture and especially to desks ortables, in which the top structure is made chiefly of metal with anupper cover or pad of linoleum or similar material. The inventioncomprises an improvement in the top construction shown in my former aplication for patent, SerialNo. 17,017, fi ed March 25, 1915, and is inpart a division thereof.

In tops, of the character shown in said application for patent it isdesirable that the material adjacent the edges of the linoleum cover orpad shall be protected against rubbing or wearing which has a tendencyto mar or wear 0d the finish given thereto. It is also desirable thatthe edges ofthe linoleum cover or pad be protected against wear as muchas possible and my invention, for its primary purpose, is directedtoward the attainment of these desired ends. A further object of theinvention is to provide a metal protective edge or border for thelinoleum cover or pad which receives the edges thereof and saves it frominjury or wear. A further object of the invention resides in theformation of this protecting member such that when the top as a whole isapplied to the desk, table or similar article of furniture, theprotecting strip is automatically brought tightly against the edges ofthe linoleum cover, gripping the same and holding it securely againstdisplacement. With this construction the edges of the linoleum cover orpad may extend slightly over the adjacent metal portions of the desk,table or like article so that such portions are guarded againstinjurious contact liable to wear oft the finish thereof. Furthermore, bythis invention a very neat and pleasing appearance may be iven to thetop. Various other features 0 advantage will be apparent as thedescription of a preferred construction embodying my invention isunderstood, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a fragmentary plan view of a top having my invention appliedthereto.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through said top, and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section, enlarged, illustrating themethod ofassembling the top in position on the under supporting structure.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the severalviews of the drawing.

In the construction there is secured at the upper portion of the desk,table, or other structure a frame 1 of angle iron having vertical-sides'2 as shown. This frame may be Xed in any desired manner at the upperpart of a desk, table or like article, for instance, as shown in myapplication for patent to which reference has been made. The top whichis applied to this frame includes an inverted metal pan having ahorizontal portion 3 from which depend sides 4 of Patented duly ea,rare.

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substantially the same height as the sides 2 on the frame heretoforedescribed, though the particular height of the sides l'is not in any wayessential to the invention. The cover 5 formed of linoleum or suitablelike material rests against the. upper side of the part 3.

Alongside each of the de ending sides at, a strip of metal is located.comprising a section 6 substantially parallel to the side 4 but normallyspringing away from said side adjacent its upper portion where it isturned outwardly substantially at right angles, as indicated at 7,.for adistance, and is then turned upwardly and back to form a section 8 whichmay be curved as shown or in any other manner suitably formed. Thesestrips, preferably, are of spring brass though any other suitablematerial may be used quite as well and, adjacent their lower edges, arefixed to the depending sides 4 by means of rivets 9.. Any otherpermanentconnection may be used instead of the rivets if desired.

The outer edges of the cover 5 are shaped as indicated at 10 to fitunder the return section 8 of said metal strips lying between the sameand the outwardly turned sections 7. The cover may be easily insertedunderneath sides of said under the return sections 8 as; the metal maybe readilybent outward to permit the entrance of the edges of the cover5. After the cover has been placed in position the top as a whole isplaced in the frame 2 and forced downward to position substantially thatshown in Fig. 2. It is apparent that when this operation takes place thesections 6 of said spring metal strips are forced at their upper endsinto close contact with the sides 4 of the inverted pan this drawing thereturn sections 8 tightlyagainst the edges of the cover 5 gripping andholding them firmly.

With a top as thus constructed the edges of the pad 5 extend beyond thesides 2 of the supporting frame, said edges being protected by metalcoverings consisting of the sections 7 and 8 of the strips attached tothe sides 4. The edges of the linoleum, accordingly, are protectedagainst wear while their overhanging portions serve to protect the outersides of'sides 2 against wear which would injure or mar the finishthereof. In addition, the sides 2 having been given any finishsimulating that of a desired wood, the

spring metal strips covering the edges of the,

linoleum of brass make a contrast which I adds greatly to the appearanceof the article to which the top is applied.

I claim 2-- 1. A to construction for desks, tables and like artic escomprising an under member having vertical sides, an inverted panhaving. depending sides received within the member, a cover'pad lyingupon said pan, having its edges extendmgl slightly beyond the sides ofsaid an, and a strip of spring metal secured adacent its lower] mg sidesof said pan adjacent the lower edges thereof, said strip comprising asection lying alongside of but normally springing outwardly for adistance at its upper end from the pan, a second section at the upperend of the first mentioned section lying substantially at right angles'thereto for a short distance and then turned back to cover the edges ofthe pad, said first section of the strip being received between thesides of said under member and pan, substantially as described.

2. A to construction for desks, tables and like artic es comprising anunder member having vertical sides, an inverted pan having dependingsides received within the sides of the under member, a cover pad lyingabove and on the an, and a strip of meta co the depending sides of thepan adjacent the secured adjacent its lower edge to each of edge to eachof the'depend- .-ber having vertical lower edges thereof, said stripseach comprising a lower section lying alongside the sides'of the pan andformed at their upper parts above the pan to receive the edges ofthepad,'said lower sections of the strips being received between thesides of said under member and pan, substantially as described.

3. A top construction for desks, tables, and like articles comprising anunder frame having vertical sides and ends, an inverted pan insertedbetween the sides and ends of the frame, a cover pad lying'above and onsaid pan, and means connected .to the pan and extending above the sameautomatically engaging with the pad""as the pan is inserted to hold saidpad in place, substantially as described.

4. A top construction for desks, tables and like articles comprising anunder member having vertical sides and ends, an inverted pan insertedbetween the sides and ends of the frame, a cover pad lying above and onsaid pan, and means connected to the pan and lying between the sides andends thereof and the sides and ends of the under member for frictionallyretainin the pan in lace within the sides and en s of said un er memberand automatically engaging with the sides and ends of the pad to hol thesame in place on the pan, substantially as described.

5. A top construction for desks, tables and like articles comprising anunder member having vertical sides and ends, an inverted pan having downturned sides and ends inserted between the sides and ends of the frame,metal strips secured to the pan' at each side and end and extended abovethe pan and normally springing away from the pan at their upperportions, and a cover pad lying on and above the pan, "the edges ofwhich are engaged and held by the upper portions of said strips when thepan is mserted in said member.

6. A top construction for desks, tables, and like articles comprising anunder mem:

sides and ends, an inverted an inserted between the sides and ends 0said member, a cover pad lying above and on said pan and means attachedto the pan, said means lying partly between the pan and member andfrictionally engagin with saidmember when the pan is connectedtherewith, and partly above the pan and frame and engaging with the padto hold it in lace on the pan, substantially as descri In testimonywhereof I afiix my signature.

PETER M. WEGE.

